Closure



Patented pr. 1923.

uniTao sTaTas ALBERT H. JOHNSON, OIF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 01E' COLUMBIA.

CLOSURE.

Application filed November 9, 1921. Serial No. 514,049.

To /Z whom z'z may concern V Be it known that I, ALBERT H. JOHNSON, a citizen of the nited States, residing at 'ashington. in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Inrprovements in Closures, of which the following is a'specification.

`liis invention relates to closures for gasoline tanks and the like.

In the present invention. I have piovided a hinged closure member capable of being used on tanks. receptacles. and containers of anv kind. and particularl)v useful in conA nection with the fuel tanks of motor vehicles or other containers of volatile liquids.

The device consists of a closure member which is spring actuated and self-closing. and .the cap is self-seating to accommodate itself to irregularities in' the member to which it is hinged.

The hingedl member consists of a cap adapted to close the opening and a member to which it is secured. said member being provided with a projecting lip forming a hand grip and said cap being adapted to engage the nozzle formed on. the end of a hose used in filling the tank to retain the cap in open position.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure l is a plan View,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation, p

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view on line 3 3 of Figure 1,

Figure lis a similar view on line '1t-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is moved. and.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the hinge member removed.. `Referring to the drawings. the reference numeral 1 designates a portion of a tank or container of an v kind. The tank is provided with an opening surrounded h v a flange :2 which is externallvthreaded' for the reception of a cap or closure member. The closure member consists of a base portion 3 which is externally threaded to engage the threads formed on the flange 2. and is provided with a Harige l at its upper end forming a seat for the cap. The Harige may be provided with spaced ribs 5 to be engaged b v Athe cap. A pair of ears 6 are arranged at the rear end of the base member. and these ears are adapted to receive a 4pin T.

a detail view of-the cap re -ranged centrally thereof.

hinged member 8 is provided with ears 9 having openings therein'for the reception of the pin T. spring 1() is arranged around the pin, one end of the spring engaging the base. as at 11, and the other end engaging the hinged member. as atI 12. The hinged member is of greater length than the diameter of the base member providing a projecting lip 13. The hinged member is further provided with van opening for the reception of a pin 11, the pin being retained in position by-means of a nut l5, yon the top of the hinged member. and being loosely mounted in said opening. A cap 16 is mounted on the bolt or pin 1l. the cap being provided with a threaded opening engaging threads 0n the pin to rigidly secure it thereto. The pin is provided'with` a -head 1T. The cap is of slightl)v greater diameter than the diameter of the opening in the base portion and extends over the flange 1. As shown. it may be provided with a strip of packing 18. engaging the ribs 5. The upper surface of the cap is provided with a substantiallj)v semi-spherical projection 19, arshell :'20 is arranged on the pin 14 beneath the cap and is adapted to close the opening in the base member. As shown. the shell and cap are provided with openings `21 and 22 respectively. which are arranged in staggered re-L/A lation.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description'. rI`lie base is secured to the flange surrounding the opening in th tank and the cap is normally retained in closed position by spring 10. The provision of ribs 5 to be engaged by the cap insures an air-tightit.. the ribs forming a relatively narrow surface which may be snugly engaged b v the cap. The' semispherical projection 19 permits the cap to he self-centering and properl)v engage the surface of the Harige. The cap is loosely connected to the hinged member to permit slight movement thereof.

The lip 13 permits the .cap to be readily opened. and when a filling hose is inserted in the opening. the cap is engaged by the nozzle to retain it in open position against the tension ofthe spring. The hinged plate 8 ma)v be formed of sheet metal and stamped to reduce the cost of manufacture.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and .that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. l

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A closure member comprising a base having an opening therein, a hinged member mounted on said base, a pin movably secured to said hinged member, and a cap carried by saidpin and adapted t'o close said opening,said cap being provided with a rounded portion on one face surrounding said pin and contacting With said-hinged member to permit it to center itself over said opening.

2A closure member comprising a base having an opening therein, a hinged member mounted on said base, a pin'carried by said hinged member, a cap carried by said pin ,and adapted to close said opening, and aV shell mounted ron said pin beneath said cap and adapted to extend into said opening when the cap is in `closed position,.said shell 'and said cap being provided with openings Y arranlged in 'staggered relationto each other.

closure member comprising a base having an opening there1n,-a hinged member mounted on sald base, a pm loosely carried by said hinged member, a cap carried by said y pin and adapted to close said opening, a gasket mounted beneath said cap, and a shell mounted on said pinbeneath said gasket and adapted to clamp the latter in position agalnst said cap, said shell being adapted to Yextend into said opening when the cap is in closed position.

4. A closure member comprising a base having a. central opening, la cap arranged above said opening and provided substantially centrally of one face with a rounded portion, a hinged member mounted on said base and extending across said cap, means `for loosely connecting said cap and said hinged member, and a spring connected `between said base and said hinged member and adapted to urgethe latter against the rounded portion of said cap.

5. A closure member comprising a base having a central opening, a cap arranged above said opening and provided substantially centrally of one face with a rounded portion, a gasket mounted'against the oppo site face of said cap, a shell mounted against said gasket, a pin rigidly connecting said shell to said cap, a hingedy member mounted on said basel and extending across said ca said'pin being loosely connected with said hinged member, and aspring connected between said base and said hinged member and adapted to urge the latter against theirounded portionof said cap.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALBERT H. JOHNSON. 

